!!William Shakespeare (eng. William Shakespeare; 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, England - April 23, 1616, ibid.) - the great English playwright and poet.!! Read Shakespeare, especially in the original (how wonderful it is that I know English... and not only), a real pleasure, but how much wisdom was in it and how many brilliant sayings he left for us. For example, this: “Be wise: to those who are in a hurry , a fall threatens.”. and also “Where there are few words, they have weight. Only that which is empty from within rattles.” These are short statements, but look at how much thought and meaning they contain. And it’s even better to look at such sayings from “The Observer”, and not as usual out of habit. Then something unknown opens up... Around 1595, Shakespeare creates one of his most famous tragedies - “Romeo and Juliet” - the story of the development of the human personality in the fight against external circumstances for the right to love. "Originally heard in the short story by Luigi Da Porto (Luigi Da Porto, 1485-1529), the story about the sad fate of Romeo and Juliet (1524) was picked up by other Italian authors (Bandello, Bolderi, Groto) and further spread in European literature. This seems to be a tragedy , but it is special - lyrical, optimistic, despite the death of the main characters in the finale. Their names have become a common name for the highest poetry of passion. In any case, this is a wonderful story, why it has come to us through the centuries... Fig. 1 Romeo and Juliet. . Painting by F. Dixie (1884) Around 1596, another of Shakespeare’s most famous works, “The Merchant of Venice,” was published. Shylock, like another famous Jew of the Elizabethan drama, Barabbas, seeks revenge. , a negative character, is much more complex. On the one hand, he is a greedy, cunning, even cruel loan shark, on the other hand, he is an insulted person whose resentment evokes sympathy. He reminds me of another loan shark from the cartoon “Christmas Stories,” in which there is so much that is exciting and revealing. for any person. Shylock’s famous monologue “Hasn’t the Jew eyes?..” (Act III, Scene 1) is recognized as the best speech in defense of the equality of Jews in all literature. The play contrasts the power of money over a person and the cult of friendship - an integral component of life harmony. You see... everything from life, everything for life Fig. 2. Title page of the first edition of “The Merchant of Venice” (1600) Despite the dramatic nature of the storyline, in its atmosphere “The Merchant of Venice” is close to fairy tale plays like “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1596). By the way, I really love fairy tales and magic, and not only them J This magical play was probably written for celebrations on the occasion of the wedding of one of the Elizabethan nobles. Shakespeare endows fantastic creatures with human weaknesses and oddities, he skillfully shows women's quirks (but what about women without them) - this is how he skillfully creates characters. At the same time, Shakespeare creates an immortal and most interesting type, which has had no analogues until now - Sir John Falstaff. The success of both parts of “Henry IV” is not least due to this most prominent character in the chronicle, who immediately became popular. Fig.3. Falstaff with a large jug of wine and a goblet. Painting by E. von Grützner (1896) The character is undoubtedly negative, but with a complex character - this is why he is interesting. A materialist, an egoist, a man without ideals: honor is nothing to him, an observant and insightful skeptic. He denies honor, power and wealth: he needs money only as a means of getting food, wine and women. The essence here is also cheerful laughter at oneself and the world around us. His strength lies in his knowledge of human nature, he is disgusted with everything that binds a person, he is the personification of freedom of spirit and unprincipledness. A man of a bygone era, he is not needed where the state is powerful. Realizing that such a character is inappropriate in a drama about an ideal ruler, Shakespeare removes him in Henry V: the audience is simply informed of Falstaff's death. What a turn, huh? From